Window-cleaning seat



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 11 C. B. PORTER.

- WINDOW CLEANING SEAT."

No. 313,618. Patented Mar. 10, 1885.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

N OMOaeL r I G, f. PORTER. WINDOV CLEANING SEAT.

No. 313,618. Patented Mar. 10, 1 885.

UNlTE dramas AIIENT tries.

CHARLES B. PORTER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

WINDOW-CLEANING SEAT.

TSPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,618, dated March 10, 1885.

Application filed December 1, 1884. ()To model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

of the city and county of San Francisco, and

State of California, haveinvented an Improvementin WVindowCleaning Seats; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to certain improvements in that class of window-cleaning platforms or seats in which two clamps are employed to bind the device to the window-sill; and my invention consists in a novel means by which the movable clamp is adjusted and held; in peculiar adjustable binding cleats or bars on each clamp, by which a proper hearing is secured on the various moldings or edges inside and outside of the sill; in adjustable and removable crossbars on the bottom of the platform, by which the molding or cleat on the top of the window-sill is protected, and in various details of construction, all of which I shall hereinafter fully explain.

The object of my invention is to provide a platform or seat which is adapted to be secured to the window-sill in the most rigid manner possible, whereby the utmost security is afforded to the operator while in the performance of his work.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved window-cleaning device. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is aperspective View looking toward the bottom of my device. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line .90 a: of Fig. 2 and with thechair and railing removed. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line yy of Fig. 2.

Ais the platform, on the outer end of which is secured the chair B, provided with thensual railings, 0. To the inner end of the platform is rigidly seeured,bybolts or angle-iron strips, or in any other suitable manner, the fixed clamp D. On the under side of the platform, on each edge, are two guide-strips, E, channeled or otherwise hollowed out for the purpose of confining and guiding the parts I shall now describe.

F is the movable or adjustable clamp, the top of which is at right angles, and its edges are guided by and slide in the guiderails E. To the back of the clamp is firmly secured,by

suitable braces or brackets, the double wedge seat-piece G. This consists of asuitable piece of metal or other suitable material, the rear edgeof which is beveled toward each end, as shown. In the bottom of the platform are let the ratchet-strips H.

I is a buttress-piece, the ends of which are inclination of the rear edge of the wedge seat.

piece G. The wedge-blocks K are provided with threaded sockets it, through which a screw, L, passes. Onehalf of this screw has a right-hand tl1read,while the other half has a left-hand thread, and the sockets 76 are correspondingly threaded. The ends of the screw project into and through elongated slots 6, made in the guide-strips E, whereby said screw is confined and guided and the wedge'blocks prevented from falling out.

The operation or the screw causes the two wedgeblocks to separate or to approach each other, according to the direction of revolution of the screw. WVhen the blocks approach each other, they, acting against the wedgeseat G, force the adjustable clamp to its bearing, and there hold it rigidly. The separation of the blocks frees it from the binding effect of the wedges. The buttressstrip I may be set up to its position so that it will require but very little movement of the wedge-blocks to produce their binding effect upon the clamp, not

ent forms of moldings or panels may be ac In the present instance I have commodated. shown a beveled curved upper surface to the bindingcleatN, and astraightlower surface, which represent, probably, the most common forms which will be needed. The bindingcleat N, to use either surface has but to be taken out from its supporting-bolts and reversed, and if a different form need be used it can be substituted. The different widths of these moldings or panels must also be provided for, so that the cleatN may find as perfect a bearing as possible. For this purpose I introduce between the cleat and the clamp, and between the bolt-heads and the outer surface of the clamp, padding washers or strips n, which not only serve the purpose of washers, but also of throwing the cleat N a greater or less distance outward, to make its position conform as precisely as possible to the molding or panel against which it bears for the purpose of finding the most rigid seat,

In the movable clamp F are made elongated slots, f, through which bolts 0 pass into a vertically-adjustable binding-cleat, P, on the inner surface or face of said clamp. This cleat is for the purpose of finding a bearing on the upper surface of the outside edge of the window ledge or sill, and its shape in cross-section must conform to the shape of the said edge. In some cases it may bevdesirable to employ with this platform a stand or seat upon the inner end, in which case there will have to be a binding-cleat, Q, on the inner surface of the movable clamp which is adapted to find a bearing under the outside edge ofthe window ledge or casing. This cleat Q should also be vertically adjustable, which may be done by means of bolts, as heretofore described, or, in order to avoid, the use of so many bolts, by means of the slotted brackets or arms q, secured to the cleat and passedupward behind the upper cleat' P and over its bolts, whereby when said bolts are adjusted and tightened the slotted arms are also adjusted and tightened to hold the cleat Q to its position.

On the top of many window-ledges there is a strip continuing the rabbet, behind which the lower sash of the window finds a seat. If no provision were made by which this strip or head would be proteeted,the pressure of the platform upon it would have a tendency to crush it. Besides, its presence in that position prevents the platform from finding a suitable bearing. To remedy this, I have the following: In the under surface of the platform, near its inner end, are made dovetailed grooves It, within which fit correspondinglya position to bind against the rabbet or strip or cleat on the top of the window-sill, and therefore serves the double purpose of affording additional clamping security to the platform, and also for protecting the said strip or bead on the window-sill. The different thicknesses of these strips or beads may render it' necessary to have cross-bars of different thickness to correspond, and in order to substitute one for another theyhave only to be attached so as to be readily taken out of their grooves. But as additional means for leveling the platform I may have supplementary'slidi ng stripbars S of different thicknesses, which are adapted to rest on the ledge in front of the top strip or cleat. These strips have studs 3, which fit the grooves R.

The extension platform or stand,which may sometimes be used at the inner end of the device, as I have heretofore described, I represent by the letter U. It will be seen that this platform, near where it is secured to the main platform, has an opening, a. in it, through which the disk-shaped head if of the screw T may operate.

The operation of the device is as follows: It is first set upon the window-sill, and the buttress-strip I is set up as close to the wedgeblocks as may be desirable, and is held to its position by the pawl J. The screw L is then operated, whereby the wedges are caused to approach each other, which movement, as I have before described, causes the movable clamp to be set up and to bind itself against the outside of the ledge. The adjustable cleats N and P are then fixed to their position against their respective beads or moldings and are tightened thereto, and finally the cross-bar S is adjusted to its seat against the rabbet or top strip on the window-sill, when the whole device may be found to be rigidly secured, and may be used with perfect safety. It will be seen that in all parts of my device Isecure the greatest practicable breadth of bearingsurface to obtain the firmesthold and avoid injury to contact surfaces or moldings.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a window-cleaning seat or platform having Mixed and a movable clamp, the means for adjusting said movable clamp, consisting of a wedge-block operating behind the said clamp, substantially as herein described.

2. In a window-cleaning seat or platform havinga fixed and a movable clamp, the means for adjusting said movable clamp, consisting of oppositely-moving wedge-blocks operating behind the movable clamp, substantially as herein described.

3. In a window-cleaning seat or platform having a fixed and amovable clamp, the means for adjusting said movable clamp, consisting of Wedge-blocks bearing against the back of the clamp, and a screw with right and left hand threads passing through the blocks, whereby they are moved in opposite directions, substantially as herein described.

4. The platform A, having the fixed clamp D and the movable clamp F, with the wedge seat-piece G on its back, in combination with the buttress-strip I, the wedge-blocks K between the seat-piece and the buttress, and the right-and-left-hand screw L, by which said blocks areoperated to set up or relieve said clamp, substantially as herein described.

5. The platform A, having the fixed clamp D and the movable clamp F, with the wedge seat-piece G on its back, in combination with the adjustable buttress -strip I, the wedgeblocks K, having threaded sockets 7c, and the right-and-left-hand screw L, all arranged to operate substantially as herein described.

6. The platform A, having the fixed clamp D and the movable clamp F, with the wedge seat-pieceGon its back, and the ratchet-strips H on the bottom of the platform, in combination with the sliding buttress-strip I, having swinging pawl J, adapted to engage the ratchetstrip, the wedge-blocks-K between the buttress-strip and the wedge seat-piece, and having the threaded socket, 7c, and the right-andleft'hand screw L passing through said sockets, whereby the wedge-blocks are operated, sub stantially as and for the purpose herein described.

7. The platform A, having on its bottom the ratchet-strips H, and the channeled and slotted guides E on each edge, and the fixed clamp D on its inner end, in combination with the movable clamp F, confined and adaptedto slide within the channeled guides, and having' the wedge seat-piece G on its back, the buttressstrip I, confined and adapted to slide within said guides, and having the swinging pawl J for engaging the ratchetstrips, the wedge-blocks K, having threaded sockets 7r, and the right-and-left-hand screw L, passing through said sockets and confined and guided by the slotted guides, substantially as herein described.

8. In a window-cleaning seat or platform, the inner clamp, D, having vertical slots d, in combination with the binding-cleat N on its inner face, and-the bolts M, passing through the slots and into the cleat, whereby said cleat is adjusted to its seat, substantially as herein described.

9. In a window-cleaning seat or platform, the inner clamp, D, having the vertically-adjustable bindingeleat N on its inner face, adapted to find a bearing under the bead, molding,or panel on the inside of the windowsill, in combination with the outer clamp, F, having the vertically-adjustable binding-cleat I on its inner face, adapted to bear on the upper surface of the outside of the window sill or ledge, substantially as herein described 10. In a window-cleaning seat or platform, the clamps D F, and the vertically-adj ustable binding-cleat Q on the inner face of clamp F, adapted to find a bearing under the outer edge of the window sill or ledge, in combination with the platform extension II on the inner end of the main platform, substantially as herein described.

11. In a window-cleaning seat or platform, the clamp F, having the slots f, in combination with the binding-cleat P, bolts M,the binding-cleat Q, and the slotted arms or brackets q, secured to the cleat Q and embracing the bolts between the clamp and cleat P, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

12. The platform A, having clamps D F, by which it is secured to'the window-sill, in combination with the horizontallyadjustable cross-bar S under the platform, and adapted to protect the strip or molding on the top of the sill and to bind against it, substantially as herein described.

13. The platform A, having the grooves R, and the clamps D and F, by which it is secured to the window-sill, in combination with the cross-bar S, having studs 8, adapted to fit and to slide in the grooves, and the screw T, by which said cross-bar is horizontally adjusted, substantially as herein described.

14. The platform A, having the grooves R in its under side, and the clamps D and F, by which it is secured to the window-sill, in combination with theleveling crossstrips S, having studs 8, sliding in grooves B, said strips being adapted to bear on the sill inside of the top molding strip or cleat, substantially as herein described.

' In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES B. PORTER.

WVitnesses:

S. H. N OURSE, H. 0. LEE. 

